Leaf litter decomposition as a functional assessment of a natural stream channel restoration project

Historically, Wilson Creek's stream channel was re-routed to allow for farming its floodplain. In 2003, a 965m reach was restored to its original channel, meanders recreated, riffle-pool sequences constructed, and the stream reconnected to its backwater areas and floodplaim Reconstruction provided an opportunity to measure the re-establishment of stream functions post-restoration. To determine if decomposition processes were affected, American sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis L.) leaf litter bags were placed in riffles in the restored reach, an upstream reference site, and two reference streams. Litter mass loss, C: N dynamics, fungal ergosterol, and macroinvertebrate assemblages were compared over a nine month period across these stream sites. The restoration and reference sites exhibited similar responses for litter mass loss, C: N ratios, ergosterol content and macroinvertebrate densities per unit ergosterol over time, indicating that decomposition processes were successfully reestablished in the restored reach.